Life Expectancy of Prostrate Cancer

Early prostate cancers grow slowly. Initially it takes two to four years for the tumor to double in size, but as the tumor grows, the growth rate accelerates.

Early Detection

• When prostate cancer is detected early, "the cure rate is very high ... nearly 100 percent of men diagnosed at this stage will be disease-free after five years," according to the Prostate Cancer Foundation.

Untreated

• Left untreated, but still in a curable stage, prostate cancer takes 10 to 12 years to metastasize, and up to 17 years to cause death.

Localized Tumor and Lymph Nodes

• When a large localized tumor is advanced, life expectancy drops to eight to 12 years. If lymph nodes are involved, the survival rate drops further to six to eight years.

Treatment

• Your age and state of health determine how prostate cancer is treated. The older the patient, the less aggressive the treatment, because the tumor has less time to grow. Radical prostatectomy is recommended for men in their 40s and 50s. Men over age 70 fare best with radiation. Watchful waiting is the standard course for men in their late 70s to 80s.

Statistics

• Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of death in men. One in six men will develop the disease in his lifetime. Statistically, chances of developing it increase greatly with age.